Column ignored reality beyond US role in Syria

The Opinion page on April 27 carried a column by Charles Krauthammer, ''Obama dithers while Syria burns.'' Krauthammer does not state an alternative to President Obama's policies. As a parallel, Krauthammer mentions: ''Clinton saved Kosovo by summoning NATO to bomb the hell out of Serbia, the Russians be damned.''

Unfortunately, Americans do not understand the conditions in Syria that cause the United States to ''dither.'' We do not have the history of ethnic cleansing that prevails in Syria and Lebanon.

Syria is constantly beset by Sunni-Shia contempt and hatred. Other sects, including Maronites, Alawites, Copts, and Christians, compete for power. Assad's Alawite sect rules Syria, and they are desperately afraid that they will be killed, tortured and ethnically cleansed if they lose power. Therefore, the U.S. State Department does not want to back sects. If it did, the violence would probably spread. Meddling would extend hatred of the United States. Also, the consensus among other nations is not to take sides.

If Krauthammer does not have any ideas other than military aggression, then he should accept the State Department's and the executive branch's policy. At this time, it appears that the sanctions are the best action that the United States can do.